Volume One, Chapter 20: The Ultimate Trump Card

Fu Youwen couldn’t help but wipe the cold sweat from his brow. Although Zhu Quan, seated at the head of the hall, wore a smile, he exuded a presence even more terrifying than when facing Zhu Yuanzhang.

Despite his unease, Fu Youwen forced himself to steady his voice and said, “Your Highness, it’s not that the Ministry of Revenue cannot produce one million taels. In fact, there is still a surplus of over two million six hundred thousand taels in the Ministry’s account. However, these funds have already been allocated. Due to the severe drought in Guanzhong this year, which resulted in a total crop failure, the late Emperor approved eighty thousand taels in disaster relief just a few days ago. Additionally, the soldier’s allowances from last year’s military campaign have yet to be fully distributed, requiring approximately another million taels.

“Subtracting the officials’ salaries for the remaining months of this year, the Ministry of Revenue truly cannot spare any more money.”

Fu Youwen felt utterly helpless. As a grand Minister of Revenue managing the vast empire’s finances, he had no pocket money of his own; instead, he had to carefully balance every year just to make ends meet.

Hearing this, Zhu Quan furrowed his brows and couldn’t help but blurt out, “What? The Great Ming under Father’s reign is so poor that it cannot even spare a mere one million taels of silver?”

Though he voiced his genuine thoughts, his words took on a completely different tone in the ears of the assembled officials.

Many began to mutter inwardly, criticizing Zhu Quan for his ignorance of the value of daily necessities, fearing that if such an inexperienced prince ascended the throne, life would only grow more difficult.

Fu Youwen wiped his cold sweat again, unwilling to continue the conversation. How could he respond? He certainly couldn’t say, “Yes, your father was indeed somewhat lacking in governance.”

Zhu Quan naturally caught every flicker on Fu Youwen’s face. With a slight sneer, he raised his voice again. “Sanbao.”

“At your service,” came the prompt reply.

Ma Sanbao hurried into the Fengtian Hall from outside. The assembly was surprised to see a eunuch enter and exchanged puzzled glances, wondering what trick Zhu Quan was about to play.

Ignoring the expressions of the officials, Zhu Quan turned to Ma Sanbao and commanded, “Immediately go to the Daning Money House and withdraw two million taels of silver to deliver to Minister Chen at the Ministry of Rites. The Ministry of Revenue may be short on funds, but I will not allow Father, a lifetime soldier, to be denied a grand and dignified funeral!”

“Yes, Your Highness!” Ma Sanbao responded without hesitation, bowing deeply. After finishing, he asked, “Your Highness, shall the one million taels be in silver notes or in specie?”

“In specie. Avoid any trouble.”

“Understood. I will handle it at once and have it delivered to the Ministry of Rites within half an hour.”

With that, Ma Sanbao bowed and exited the hall.

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Although Ma Sanbao had left, the entire court was deeply shaken.

Two million taels—considering that the total annual revenue of the Great Ming barely surpassed twenty million taels of silver, Zhu Quan had just casually arranged to allocate a tenth of the empire’s yearly income for his father’s funeral.

Extravagant—absurdly extravagant.

Yet this was not the most crucial point. What truly caught their attention was Zhu Quan’s mention of the Daning Money House.

Among the high-ranking officials present, though the late Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang had kept salaries low, many had other sources of wealth. Since the Daning Money House had expanded nationwide three years prior, they had all deposited the bulk of their fortunes there.

Hearing Zhu Quan demand funds from the Daning Money House naturally sparked speculation.

“May I ask, Prince Ning, regarding the Daning Money House…” stammered Marquis Zhu Shou, nervously wiping his brow.

He had deposited over two million taels of specie there—his entire fortune.

Although he was a marquis and had received many favors from Zhu Yuanzhang, the Great Ming had only been founded twenty-five years ago. How could he possibly have amassed over two million taels so quickly?

Zhu Quan smiled, his gaze laced with mockery as it swept over the officials.

“That is correct. The Daning Money House is my property. I know every major client there by heart. If any of you ever need assistance, you are welcome to favor the Daning Money House.”

The officials drew a sharp breath, their hearts trembling at Zhu Quan’s words and smile.

That phrase, “know every major client by heart,” was a deliberate warning: I know all your secrets. You’d better cooperate, or don’t blame me for being ruthless.

Each courtier, whose lifeblood was now in Zhu Quan’s grasp, began weighing their options.

The money in the Daning Money House wasn’t just their personal wealth—it was, in some respects, evidence of their corruption, bribery, and oppression.

“Your Highness, I have a matter to report.”

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While everyone was still inwardly struggling over what to do, another voice suddenly rose among the civil officials.

Turning, the crowd saw it was Left Vice Minister of Rites, Su Boheng.

Though only a Vice Minister of Rites, no one in the court dared underestimate him.

His strength lay in his profound background and prestige among Confucian scholars, rivaling even Ren Taiheng.

Su Boheng, styled Pingzhong, hailed from Meishan, Sichuan.

He was the ninth-generation direct descendant of Su Zhe, one of the Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties, and also a scion of Su Dongpo.

Though the Su family was not as illustrious as the Kong family, their Confucian reputation was formidable.

Zhu Quan, intrigued by the vigorous man of over sixty, said, “Minister Su, please speak freely. As I am new to the court, I must listen to the counsel of the great ministers.”

In truth, Zhu Quan’s interest was not due to Su Boheng’s lineage, but because Su was the teacher of Xie Jin.

Xie Jin was a renowned figure in the early Ming, serving as Grand Secretary under Zhu Di’s Yongle reign and overseeing the compilation of the Veritable Records of the Founding Emperor and the Yongle Encyclopedia—a man of great talent.

When Zhu Quan was still a prince, he had tried to contact Xie Jin. Unfortunately, last year Zhu Yuanzhang dismissed Xie Jin, sending him home.

If Su Boheng could help Zhu Quan recall Xie Jin to the court, the man would surely become his indispensable right hand.

Of course, Su Boheng was unaware of Zhu Quan’s thoughts. Wiping sweat from his brow, he bowed deeply and spoke with all his might, “Your Highness, know this: a nation cannot exist a day without a sovereign. Since the late Emperor has passed, there must be a new ruler to ascend the throne; otherwise, the state will cease to be.”

“This old minister believes Your Highness’s civil and military merits are not inferior to the late Emperor’s. Therefore, I boldly beseech Your Highness to succeed the throne and rule the realm.”

With these words, he knelt reverently, his respect unmistakable.